Into the Woods

I don't know a whole lot about Tiger Woods. I know that...

1. He's a famous, great golfer.
2. He's "mixed race". (I think we're all of the human race.)
3. He's made a lot of money. A lot. A...lot.
4. He's got an unbelievably hot wife (see #1,2,3).

I don't know if the recent gossip about him his true, nor do I care. And no, I'm not linking to any site that is posting it.

Let's assume that there are famous, talented, super-rich guys out there who get married to extremely hot women and have kids, and then cheat on their wives – as a certain NBA player on a Los Angeles-based team admitted several years back.

My question is – did these guys not have any idea what they were getting themselves into in the first place when they married? Kobe was fairly young, if I recall... but still... didn't anyone tell him about Wilt Chamberlain?

Why do these guys get married, especially as young as they do? Do their advisors say it is necessary for endorsements? Is it because they want to keep their hot girlfriend? Is it family/church pressure? Is it a desire to contain sex within marriage? Is it the desire to have a wife? Kids? The desire to be a husband and father?

Let's take these one-by-one.

Endorsements. Really? Are unmarried sports stars no good at moving product? Perhaps this was true 50 years ago. But really – could this still possibly be a reason?

Keeping a Girlfriend. I don't care how hot she is. I don't care what she does in bed. If a guy doesn't want to be a husband, he should not marry. If the hotness or sexual abilities of his girlfriend is what is so important to a guy and that is what really matters to him, he's going to be able to find plenty of others. Let her go, or at least call her bluff - if she is bluffing.

Family or Church Pressure. I can see this. But if you care so much about what your family wants or what your church says, you shouldn't be getting involved in adultery. Most families don't think well of that, after all - even when they are doing it.

Containing Sex Within Marriage. See above.

Desire to Have a Wife/Kids. If you're going to bring other people into your life in such a way, respect them and care about them. Part of that means saying "no" to adultery.

Desire to Be a Husband and Father. This is different than the previous reason, which is about acquiring. This is about being and giving. And again, part of that being and giving involves fidelity.

None of us really knows what it is like to be in these marriages. For all we know, the wives are frigid and extremely difficult people. Being physically stunning, while it can be arousing, doesn't necessarily translate to being a good lover, or an available one. Even so, adultery is still wrong. But the adultery is what we hear about, not the violation, if any, of the marital vows on the part of the other spouse.

Again, though, did these guys not know what they were getting themselves into? That there were going to be women throwing themselves at them? If a guy can't handle that, then he shouldn't marry and make babies. Likewise, if a woman can't handle the fact that women are going to be throwing themselves at their husband, then they shouldn't marry him and make babies with him.

It has to be difficult for even the most devoted man to deal with the temptation. It has to be difficult for even the most secure woman to deal with knowing that temptations are everywhere for her husband. Pop stars, movie stars, sports stars, trust fund kids... young females will literally expose themselves to these guys and jump on them.

Finally – shame on anyone who is throwing themselves at a married person.